Multiple Members of Theft Ring Busted for Allegedly Stealing Over $2 Million from More Than 100 Home Depot Stores in 9 States By Bailey Richards

Authorities have busted nearly all members of an organized theft ring that targeted hundreds of Home Depot stores in multiple states, taking home millions.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the bust through a press release and during a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 11, revealing that the Queens-based ring of 13 members, dubbed “Operation Self Checkout,” stole $2.2 million in merchandise through over 300 documented thefts at 128 different Home Depot stores.

Police have recovered products with an estimated value of $1.5 million — a figure that will likely rise as investigators continue sorting through recovered items — according to New York officials.

The crew, allegedly led by 52-year-old Armando Diaz, would meet at 5:30 a.m. local time almost every day to prepare for each “hit,” before striking at Home Depot locations in New York and eight other states, officials said.

The group — which pulled in hauls of goods valued at anywhere from $1,800 to around $35,000 each day, per officials — also “took breaks for lunch and dinner, sometimes hitting the same Home Depot up to four times in one day,” Katz said.

Active for “years,” the crime operation would allegedly place targeted items inside of carts or large garbage bins to hide them before wheeling them out of the store, according to Katz.

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Three or four members would allegedly enter the store separately and communicate with Diaz, who would provide instructions through their earbuds, officials claim. The members would not interact inside, and they would act as though they were browsing, per police.

Officials shared security footage of the alleged “hits” to demonstrate how the group operated.

The investigation into the ring began in June 2024, when officials in Katz’s office were conducting surveillance for a different matter and saw the crew stealing air conditioners.

Air conditioners were among the most “common items stolen” by the group, along with insulation kits, reflective roof coating, power tools and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, officials said.

The stolen goods — which also included saws, power tools, Bluetooth speakers, bolt cutters, handheld blowers and more — were allegedly sold to black market retailers, according to officials. (Items were resold through a Brooklyn storefront or on Facebook Marketplace, Katz said.)

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Along with leader Diaz, the 13-member retail theft ring included Francisco Ayala-Ariza, Wilfredo “Fredo” Arango-Calle, Oscar Eduardo Valencia Diaz, Mateo Arias Toro, Victor Diaz, Joana Carolina “La Mona” Fermin, Freddy “El Torito” Padilla, Kyle “Italian” Goonan, David Araque Montoya, Angel Yamba Ortiz, and Nechemia Blatter, according to New York offiicals.

Eleven of the members — who hail from several different New York cities and boroughs, and range in age from 29 to 61 — were arraigned on a 780-count indictment on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

One remains at large and another “is in custody on another matter and will be arraigned at a later date,” officials said.

The indictment charged all 11 with fourth-degree conspiracy and other varying charges, including grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, both in the first degree, among other crimes.

Scott Glenn, Home Depot’s vice president of asset protection, reacted to the bust in a statement provided by the district attorney’s office.

“For years, this prolific organized retail crime resulted in multimillion-dollar losses for The Home Depot,” Glenn said, in part. “Though this crime ring was exclusively focused on The Home Depot, organized retail crime is a significant problem for large retailers and communities nationwide.”

“We are proud to stand at the forefront of efforts to combat these criminals and are grateful for the tireless work of District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office and the New York State Police in dismantling this enterprise,” he added.